By Allan Leibowitz

A number of materials handling manufacturers have taken a strong stand against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, halting their trade in the country and making contributions to Ukrainian charities.

Irish forklift manufacturer Combilift took to social media to announce that it has cut all ties with Russia and has ceased all production and sales of its equipment to the country.

It has also ended all production and sales to Belarus and has suspended the employment of its sole employee based in Russia.

“This was a tough decision to make after building close relationships with our Russian partners and customers, who have been a pleasure to do business with since 2005,” the company says in a statement.

Attachments maker Kaup has also halted deliveries to Russia and Belarus.

Managing director Holger Kaup tells Forkliftaction News: “In response to the far-reaching sanctions put in place by western states, the EU and numerous other institutions, as well as the virulent danger to people and organisations, Kaup has decided to implement some measures. First, we have stopped all orders and deliveries to Russia and Belarus. Further sales and marketing activities like the attendance at trade fairs will not be carried out.”

He points out that Kaup’s Russian subsidiary will remain open.  This, he says, is to prevent Kaup’s employees in Russia from being affected by the sanctions “which are intended to target the government and not the Russian population”.  

Fellow attachments maker Cascade is also taking “a very firm position in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”, according to president and CEO Davide Roncari.

“Cascade supports sanctions taken globally against Russia and, in turn, we have also suspended doing business in Russia. At this time, we are no longer taking orders or shipping products into the country,” he says. “Cascade stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and will continue to suspend operations in Russia until further notice. Our thoughts are with those impacted by this ongoing crisis and we wish for peace in the region.”

Battery specialist EnerSys has begun the process of indefinitely suspending its operations in Russia following Russia’s illegal military action against a sovereign Ukraine.

David M. Shaffer, president and CEO of EnerSys, says: “We are deeply saddened by the violence in Ukraine and stand firmly with the Ukrainian people. As the situation continues to unfold, our top priority is the safety of our employees in Ukraine and in Russia. We are suspending our operations in Russia and will comply fully with all sanctions.”

EnerSys has eight employees in Ukraine and 43 in Russia.

Spanish forklift maker Uplifting had not yet taken any action last week and was monitoring the situation. “But in any case, for the time being, the measures taken by the EEC are clear and do not allow (or make very difficult) any initiative to trade with Russia,” says commercial director Jean-Michel Aspas Arrieta.

He notes that Uplifting has several Ukrainian employees who are considering returning home to fight.

The IFOY organisation has excluded Russia from participation in the upcoming IFOY AWARD. Representatives of Russia on the jury and advisory board will be relieved of their duties until further notice, according to jury chair Anita Würmser.

“Russian jurors will no longer be able to vote on winners or participate in IFOY AWARD events. This will initially affect the IFOY Test Days with the Test Camp Intralogistics from March 21 - 23, 2022 in Dortmund, as well as the award ceremony on June 30, 2022, in Munich.

“Visitors and exhibitors from Russia will also be excluded from attending,” she adds.

Major industry events in Russia are also expected to be affected by the growing international moves against the country. Already Messe Frankfurt has suspended until further notice all events scheduled to be run by its subsidiary Messe Frankfurt RUS. It is not clear if bauma CCT Russia, due to open on 24 March, will go ahead and if international exhibitors will attend.

Charity efforts

Uplifting, like many other businesses, is organising a collection in order to send medical products and necessities to Ukrainian friends.

Combilift has teamed up with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, making an initial contribution of EUR50,000 (USD55,000) to aid the supply of relief assistance to the civilian population, including people displaced and people on the move.

Roncari says Cascade plans to support the people of Ukraine with donations to international humanitarian groups to ensure aid gets to the refugees impacted the most by this crisis. 

Forkliftaction News did not hear back from major industry players like Toyota, Jungheinrich or KION about their plans in relation to the conflict in Eastern Europe. However, Jungheinrich CEO Lars Brzoska posted on LinkedIn: “Our greatest concern these days is for the people in Ukraine, especially our Jungheinrich colleagues and their families.

“It goes without saying that peace and freedom are more important than business interests and profit. We therefore completely support the EU’s sanctions, which aim to restore peace in Ukraine. This holds true even if these sanctions – or additional ones that may be harsher – have a negative influence on our business. We must be prepared to pay this price – and we are.”

KION also posted its response on social media, noting that the group is donating EUR1 million (USD1.09 million) to the German Red Cross, to ensure that the suffering population receives the necessary support as quickly as possible.

“Together with the Polish Red Cross, the German Red Cross is, for example, establishing a logistics hub in Lublin (Poland) in order to be able to provide humanitarian aid with essentials such as drinking water, food, communication tools such as power banks, torches, camp beds, sleeping mats and hygiene kits/products. Some of the pallets with relief goods are very heavy, so we (will) also provide forklifts free of charge to support the Red Cross in their logistics hubs. Our thoughts are with the people and we fiercely wish for peace,” according to the post.